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Russia plans on increasing its deliveries of natural gas to Turkey from January 1, 2001 via a pipeline running through Romania and Bulgaria, said Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

As reported by the Interfax news agency, Russia currently is transporting 10 billion cubic meters of gas along the pipeline, and Turkey has requested that the deliveries be increased by 7 billion cubic meters. The Russian prime minister said that while the amount of gas deliveries will be raised, he did not believe that they would be able to meet all of Turkey’s expectations.

Kasyanov, who had visited Anakara in late October, said that he had agreed with his Turkish counterparts that Russian companies will take part in the construction of a gas supply network. and a thermal power station in Turkey, which will operate on Russian gas.

Furthermore, Russia will be delivering electricity to Turkey via Georgia. Kasyanov added that Armenia is also interested in selling surplus electricity to Turkey with Russia's assistance.

Russian-Turkish cooperation is two-way. Kasyanov noted that Turkish business interests are investing money in building supermarkets in a variety of Russian cities.

According to the Russian economics ministry, the total turnover of trade between Russia and Turkey equaled $1.56 billion during the first half of 2000, with Russian exports to Turkey totaling $1.4 billion and imports reaching $162 million. In 1999, the total volume of bilateral trade was $1.93 billion in 1999, with Russian exports of $1.62 billion and Turkish exports of $315 million.

During Kasyanov’s meetings in Ankara, Russia and Turkey agreed to boost their bilateral trade turnover to $10 billion per annum, from its current $3 billion. – (Albawaba-MEBG)